Method of filling shoes



A. THOb:1A

METHOD OF FILLING SHOES Oct. 18, 1932.

Filed Oct 2 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18,1932. A. THOMA 1,883,105

METHOD OF FILLING SHOES Filed 001;. 25, 1921 g sheets-Sheet 2 r MQ Z Patented Oct. 18, 1932 ANDREW THOMA, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGrhTORv TO NORTH AMERICAN CHEMICAL CGIMPAHY, O1 BOSTOEI, GHUSETTS MASSAGE" A GOBPORATIOIT OF BZASSA- METHOD OF FILLING SHOES Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 223,588.

My present method is adapted to the filling of both welt shoes and McKay shoes or any kind of shoes that need a filler. In carrying out my method I use a died out filler piece of sheet-like form. Died out filler pieces have long been used in fill ng McKay shoes but such pieces have been made of plain cardboard, felt, tar paper, sheet cork and the like cheap substances and it has always been considered necessary to cut tiein carefully to conform to the shape of the shoe cavity as nearly as possible. And then the piece has been placed in the shoe-bottom cavity and secured either by a tack or by a dab of cement first placed in the shoe-bottom cavity before the placing of the filler piece therein. All this has taken time, labor expense, and been incomplete because the material has not fitted the cavity properly (no two cavities being the same) and has not been of the right thickness and has been transitory and hence the material has been liable to break up and shift around in the cavity in the use of the shoe and frequently the filler piece has finally become disintegrated in the process of walking and ground into dust between the innersole and outer sole, causing bunches and other discomfort.

In other applications, particularly Ser. No. 210,558 filed August 4, 1927 and application Serial No. 2a2,085, filed December 23, 1927 I have set forth inventions for remedying the disadvantages above set forth. The present application aims to provide an exceedingly inexpensive method and filler piece requiring also slight labor expense. My object is to enable the most inexpensive McKay shoes to be inexpensively rendered stable and durable as to their bottoms and properly fiiled so as to give large measure of the same comfort that the better made and more expensive shoes secure. At the same time my present invention is also capable of being carried out in the grade of work and material required for said better class of shoes (by using the method or steps thereof in connection with si ch fii er pieces as disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 133,506 filed Septembcr 3, 1926, Serial No. 183,302 filed April 13, 1927 and others hereinafter mentioned),

and is also adapted to weit shoe manufacture.

Preferably I first provide an angular or polygonal filler piece, of the kind of my application Ser. No. 192,076 filed May 17, 1927, as this shape has less tendency to move in the shoe and is more readily cut, need be fitted only at its widest part, and then only approximately, and thereby lessens the number of sizes and various other requirements which will be readily appreciated by the practical shoe manufacturer. Having pro vided a filler piece of this or other shape according to the preference of the user, it is dipped into a bath of hot and very sticky, quick setting, thick cement of a filier quality or it may be actual filler material. Then the dipped piece is stripped or otherwise reduced to the proper coated condition and laid at once between the innersoie and outer sole in the shoe-bottom cavity, the outer sole is secured in usual manner and the shoe-bottom is levelled. In my copending appiication Ser. No. 228,235 filed October 24, 192; i have disclosed an apparatus for accomplishing the above rapidly and economicall and in my application Ser. No. 228,236 filed October 24, 1927 I have set forth with greater detail the various preferred ways of making the die sired filler piece. My method gives a permanence never before considered possible. It gives absolute non-shifting and non-bunching quality and unitary character to the shoebottom. By the latter I mean that the outer sole, filler piece, (and layers of filler material when present) and innersole are all held positively and permanently together as one whole by the simple method herein set forth; and all this is accompiished at small expense. In fact it is accomplished at less expense than the makeshift process of filling as heretofore practiced in the inexpensive McKay class of shoes.

A further preferable feature of my process resides in stripping or otherwise reducing the cemcntitious coating on the filler piece as the latter is about to be laid in the shoebottom, in such a way as to save part of the coating and leave the rest of the coating in ridges or heaps so that when the subsequent levelling pressure is applied to the sh0e-bot-' tom this heaped-up or ridged filler material is spread laterally thereby getting a better adhesion because of the lateral slipping frictional squeezing engagement of the cement with the adjacent leather surface and also resulting in bringing every particle of the filler piece into direct engagement fiat against the leather surface (of the outer sole or cavity bottom as the case may be) and this is not a temporary adhesion merely but is permanent. Preferably the coating material is pasty and preferably consists of actual comminuted filler material. This method may be used in connection with any of the kinds of pad-like filler pieces set forth in my concurrent applications Ser. No. 133,506 filed September 3, 1926, Ser. No. 183,302 filed April 13, 1927 Ser. No. 192,076 filed May 17, 1927' and 232,279 filed November 10, 1927. When pad-like filler pieces are used in which the center consists of plastic filler material enclosed between supporting layers of paperlike thickness and flexibility, the permanent adhesion to the adjacent shoe parts to form a unitary bottom is effected through the covering of the filler piece which is thereby held fast and non-shifting,-a result not heretofore attained. By the present process also the filler piece is caused to gradually become firmer because of the setting of the cement after the sole laying and particularly after the levelling step in the manufacture. Also my present process makes the shoe-bottom not only more stable but heat resisting due to the multi-layer conditions in the shoe-bottom, because of the outside layer of cementitious material, which change to a denser and more heat resisting condition as they become set subsequent to their first application. When the cement is largely filled with finely granulated material such as cork, lint or any ground fibre, I obtain by the present process a considerable degree of the same cushion effect as in the regular cushion bottom process and means of filling the higher priced shoes. In the latter the cushion has always been on the inside of the filler piece. The present process gives the same cushioning but it is on the outside of the filler piece. \Vhen desired of course both may be used, this being accomplished simply by using the present method with one of the pad-like tiller pieces as the support or center piece to be dipped into the coating material.

In connection with certain of my commercial forms of filler pieces the same desirable non-shifting permanence and unitary character of shoe-bottom is secured by employing with some species of my filler pieces simply the step of pressure, or with other pieces by employing a heat treatment which is not cementitious, but is otherwise, as for instance dry heat, moist heat, or moisture alone, all as more fullyset forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 242,085 filed December 23,

1927, to which, in these respects, the present application is subordinate. One of the distinguishing features of my method, in its broad aspects, resides in providing a plastic, cohesive, compacted, self-supporting filler unit, preferably in the form of a coherent, individual piece having inherent integrity, adapting it to the filler requirements of an individual shoe and preferably rendering it capable of being handled integrally, so as to be placed as a piece in the shoe-bottom and then spread therein, so far as the piece is plastic or spreadable, to bottom-forming position by means of pressure. This step in my method is applicable to all the spreadable filler pieces of my above mentioned applications as fully stated therein, and I here make cross reference to my application Serial No. 242,085 filed December 23, 1927 wherein are contained the generic claims thereto. I intend these two applications to be read and considered together and in connection with each other. Various of these filler pieces along with the present species are amenable to quickening treatment as by dipping in hot water for the heat treatment and for the spreading referred to. The body material may be on the outside before the heat treatment or it may be secured thereto in the course of the heat treatment by dipping or otherwise and the heat treatment may be liquid or it may be simply dry heat treatment. The generic claims are in my said last mentioned application and subordinate claims are herein. With such heat-influenced filler pieces as are contained in my application Serial No. 183,- 302 filed April 18, 1927 or the further species thereof in my copending application Serial No. 232,27 9 the dipping or other quickening treatment is preferably in hot water. This is especially desirable when the piece contains latent adhesive (such as referred to and claimed as to process in my copending application Serial No. 210,558 filed August A, 1927). For instance one form of my filler piece has latent adhesive on one side and waxy anti-squeak material on the other side. Dipping such a piece in hot water instantly renders active the latent adhesive (dextrine for example) as well as softening the spread able portion of the piece and then the waxy or anti-squeak surface of the piece is quickened with dry heat as by a hot roll. Such a shaped piece containing latent adhesive on one side and a waxy surface on the other side is set forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 183,302 filed August 13, 1927. In such instances my present method as herein claimed (but subordinate to Serial No. 242; 085 filed December 23, 1927), comprises the steps of providing a plastic, cohesive and compacted self-supporting filler piece and then subjecting said piece to a quickening process, preferably hot moisture, and while the piece is thus quickened as a piece spreading the same in the shoe-bottom. Preferably the spreading is by means of a hot roll and in case the exposed side of the filler piece contains anti-squeak material such for example as being impregnated with paraffin wax the hot roll instantly quickens said war at the same time that the pressure spreads the previously quickened spreadable material. If the anti-squeak material relied upon is the internal binder of thespreadable element, the hot roll brings the binder to the surface in permanently active condition. In case the filler piece, quickened by a dipping in water or other moisture treatment, preferably hot moisture, has an internal part for maintaining cohesion and an external layer of spreadable filler material, the roll or other pressure applying device sp eads said external layer with relation to the internal part and brings the same to bottom-forming position more readily because of the quickening step in the process. his quickening may be prior to he application of the piece to the shoe-bottom or simultaneously with the spreading step (especially in case of dry heat quickening).

My invention will be further understood by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for facilitating the carrying out of my method; and ig. 5 shows in broken side elevation further steps of my method;

Fig. 2 is an illustrative diagrammatic view showing the filler piece being applied to the shoe-bottom between the outer sole and the cavity bottom;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one form of filler piece; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail thereof (or of another filler piece).

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that I provide a cement container 1 having a slot 2 opening into a slot 3 provided with serrated scraper edges 4- said container having an electric heater 5 for keeping the sluggish. cement or filler material hot and preferably melted. One form of filler piece 6 is shown in Fig. 3 (and set forth in detail in my copending applications above noted). In Fig. 2 I have indicated at 7 a partly formed shoe having a bottom cavity 8 to which an outer sole 9 is to be secured in the usual process of manufacturing the shoe. It will be understood that this showing is simply illustrative and suggestive with no attempt to present in detail any particular kind of shoe nor any actual stage in its manufacture.

The filler piece is dipped into the receptacle by the operator who, if he does it by hand, takes hold of one end thereof and inserts the piece down through the slot Qinto the cement and moves the piece with a swinging motion along the direct-ion indicated by the arrow pulling the same out through the slot 3 between the scraper edges 4, 4 with the result that the cement is scraped off in grooves 10 and left in heaps or ridges 11 as shown in Fig. 3. This takes place preferably on both sides of the piece. The operator immediately swings the piece over to the shoe and places it on the bottom of the cavity 8. In regular course the outer sole 9 is brought down on the filler piece 6 and the bottom 8 and secured to the shoe-bottom in usual manner and then the levelling pressure is applied with the result that the filler piece is directly, permanently and immovably cemented fiat against both of the opposite sides of the shoe-bottom i. e. against the inner surface of the outer sole 9 and against the upper surface of the cavity bottom 8. The pressure of the levelling machine fia tens out the ridges 11 and provides a uniform and integral layer and union between the filler piece or as a part of the filler piece and the adjacent shoe part. N ct only is the filler piece held in place by this process but a unitary bottom is secured,- a result never before possible. The almost universal tendency of McKay shoes to squeak is eliminated as there can be no friction movement between adjacent leather surfaces (which has been the cause of the squeaking heretofore) bec use said surfaces are permanently united at every point of contact through the entire shoe-bottom. If the ridged layers are of resilient filler material such as ground cork and binder the shoe-bottom is thereby given a cushion-like character. Also the entire bottom is properly and accurately waterproofed. The one great main advantage however is that it is no longer liable to shift or change and yet is properly filled and the filler is permanent.

In carrying out my process in its broader aspects, any shaped piece may be used provided it is stiff enough to withstand the coating operation. No waterproofing is necessary as both sides are simultaneously covered with the plastic coating. Preferably the shaped piece has a roughened or otherwise indented surface to aid in receiv ing and holding the cementitious layers and in the non-shifting effect sought. All this is carried out without injuring but rather promoting the proper flexibility and proper stiffness and durability of the shoe-bottom. The act of coating and stripping or evening the shaped piece simultaneously insures the predetermined thickness which the shoe manufacturer deems right for the shoes which he is manufacturing. The stripping jaws 4 are set to whatever thickness the manufacturer wishes. The coating is soft and sticky and yet not so as to run or drip, all surplus being scraped off, thereby leaving on the opposite sides of the center piece or shaped support just the amount and the thickness required. The scrapers 4, 4 are spring scrapers so as to bring pressure on the coating or give it a compacting and condensing as it is being stripped. The temper of the coating is such that it will be spread and compacted as explained above under the pressure of the levelling process applied through the outer sole. In other words the center piece or shape giving support constitutes'a means in the hands of "the shoe manufacturer for developing a pre-determined thickness and amount of filling for the shoe cavity. This result is brought about by my process with the advantage that the shoe manufacturer no longer has to be subservient to the thickness which he can buy in the market but can readily and without extra expense regulate the thickness to suit himself. The center piece becomes the means for carrying the pre-determined amount of cementitious filling material to the shoe cavity. Heretofore the usual way to get plastic shoe-bottom filler into a shoe cavity has been to place it in the shoe cavity with a putty knife or spatula and spread it around to the desired thickness as mortar would be spread under the trowel. The center piece retains and supports the sticky filler mass while both the filler mass and center piece are being placed in position in the shoe-bottom. The center piece remains as a nucleus of the filling mass while the latter is setting, or in other words it prevents any possible shifting or movement of the then semi-plastic tiller mass or cementitious body. The center piece can and under my process must form the backbone or permanent support and durability producing element of the filler layer during the life or wear of the filler within the shoe-bottom. It is a reinforcing medium which, because of its environment gives durability and solidity as well as stability to the shoe-bottom. Yet it may be of an inexpensive and naturally non-durable substance because it is bound immovably in the finished shoe to the adjacent strong and durable parts. In the early days of McKay shoe manufacture it was thought necessary to put in a filler piece of leather (and this was also the case in welt shoes), and my process brings about the same desirable qualities of durability, flexibility, non-shifting and comfort but withoutthe high cost of leather. The binder or cement is preferably more highly sticky when a large proportion of fragmentary or segmentary body material such as cork, sawdust or the like is used, the object being to make the mass more or less spongy and yet sticky for permanent adhesion to the leather or other shoe part. It is adhesive to both the adjacent face of the center piece and the adjacent surface of the shoe-bottom (sole or cavity surface). It adheres sufficiently to the shoe-bottom by being merely placed therein when frictionally withdrawn from the apparatus 1 so as not to shift and so as to remain temporarily stuck in place and it is thereafter caused to adhere permanently and tenaciously by reason of the levelling pressure. It sets with suflicient speed to have suflicient permanent stic iness and yet still be in temper when the outer sole is fastened and the shoe-bottom levelled. As explained in my application Ser. No. 210,558, filed August 4, 1927 and the application of A. H. Avery Ser. No. 212,352 filed August 11, 1927 the tempering of the filler piece is a very important matter, and my present method of filling shoes effects this tempering in a high degree. The hot cementitious coatings hold the heat and thereby influence the supporting piece in the desired tempering effect, and if the supporting piece is a pad-like filler piece the enveloping hot cement slowly makes the included central spreadable layer of the filler piece soft and properly conditioned or tempered so as to have the ideal spreadability. If the kind of filler piece is used having its outside supporting cover sheets perforated as explained in my article application Ser. No. 228,236 the heat and fluid character of the enveloping treatment has ready access to the plastic interior of the filler piece through said holes or perforations. In Fig. 1 I have shown the center support or core as a pad-like filler piece and provided with holes, as just mentioned. I have also illustrated in said Fig. a further capabilities of my method of'filling shoes. The pad-like piece has a spreadable interior 12 enclosed be tween protecting cover or supporting layers 13, let, the latter shown as perforated at 15, and the former being of the frail or frangible kind mentioned in my applications Ser. No. 133,506 filed September 3, 1926 and Ser. No. 183,302 filed April 13, 1927. All this is for illustrative purposes to make my description comprehensive of the wide scope of the invention. For example it will be understood that both of the cover layers may be of the perforated variety 14 or both may be of the impe'rforate variety 13 or may be of any other of the various varieties of my copcnding filler piece applications. The chief point to emphasize here is that a filler piece must be provided which is self-sustaining so that it can be handled and treated according to my method. For instance, although I have shown a spreadable or pad-like filler piece, it may be simply alayer of any kind. I have already spoken of a paper or pasteboard blank. This is the simplest core-like center piece. It may be wholly composed of binder (as set forth in my application Ser. No. 183,302), the binder being of such a kind or with such a. coating or skin of binder character that it is non-sticky until treatment with hot water, solvents, or other quickening process, including dry heat. Such a core of pure binder is a layer of relatively stiff wax tailings dipped in any of the chemical coatings mentioned in my api plication Ser. No. 183,302. Or it consists of pitch or the like which dulls or becomes surface hardened or crusted by exposure to the air and yet maybe instantly rendered sticky by several of the pretreatments mentioned in said app ication or by dry heat. And a granular or body material coating 16, in such case, is preferably deposited directly on this binder layer, while the latter is sticky enough to hold it in place as a layer. This depositing of the layer 16 may take place also in the same manner directly on the padlike center 12. This depositing may be simply a. dusting of the material. thereon or it may be applied by machine in ridges 17 In other words I wish it understood that my method is applicable to all these various arrangements. If the bath in the container 1 is highly comminuted or heavily loaded with comminuted material such as ground cork, the outside layers 16 are deposited on the pad-like inner piece by the dipping processalready explained. Combing or stripping and preferably stripping the cementitious layer into heaps on the outside of the core or central support accomplishes two results, viz. first it is econcmicalin that it scrapes or strios olf a large percentage of the coating material, thereby saving it for further use, and, second, it puts the cement that reiains as the coating in such shape and condition that it is much more readily and efficiently spreadable. The filler piece .or blank coated with cementitious material is compressible to the extent necessary to shift from its ri id condition to a sticky level layer required for making an even shoe-bottom. The cement or other filler material is of a permanently ll xible or non-brittle character and when once set is preferably always heat resisting. The shoe manufacturer can die out his own center pieces or shaped supports, and is no longer dependent upon the filler manufacturer. My process brings readily within the range of even the small shoe manufacturer the ability to fill his shoes economically and all within his own manufacture, making him independent of outside supply houses. My process enables the shoe manufacturer to make his fillercost about what he chooses. If he wants great economy he can choose a thick cheap piece thereby lessening the amount of the more expensive external cementitious coatings. If he wishes more cushion effect he uses a very thin center piece and more of the expensive'filler material for the opposite sides. The amount of the latter is automatically determined by the adjustment of the scraping device 4, 4. (ln the other hand these two layers maybe formed thereon originally as shown and set for h in my article application Ser. No. 228,236, filed October 24, 1927 and application Serial No. 232,279 filed Nov. 10, 1927.' In the latter case the entire piece as shown,

forcibly ejects the surplus binder, now melted, and mingles it with the ground cork layor 16 until the binder and cork are thoroughly mixed together thereby. If the holes are large and the ground cork fine the intermingiing takes .place by the inward movement of the latter into the binder. The binder passes through the perforations 15 on the one side and gains access to the cork on the other side by the rupturing, dissolving or other disappearance of the frail sheet or layer 13, and the pressurecompletes the intermixture of the sticky material with-the comminutcd body material. In this variation of my method, the main binder ingredient is carried on the inside rather than provided from the outside. In fact the layer 12 may be simply binder and the body material may be provided entirely externall The body material may be on the outside before heat treatment or it may be secured thereto in the course of the heat treatment (by dipping or otherwise). The heat treatment may be liquid or it may be simply dry heat treatment. If the treatment is in hot water or other highly fluid immersion, the tempering of the dipped filler piece is effected even more quickly. The support 12, 13, 14: may be dipped in hot water for heat treatment to melt the binder and then dipped 'in dry cork or dusted with dry cork or the dry cork may be placed in the shoe-bottom and the piece, with its melted binder, placed in the shoe-bottom with the dry cork to be intermixed therewith by the levelling pressure or other pressure applied thereto. This pressure treatment, especially when for the purpose of inter-mingling the body material and binder, may be by a roll, hot if relied on for melting and quickening, or may be any other pressure means. Again, if the filler piece consists simply of said three layers, namely a spreadable middle and two cover supports, as, for example, the parts 12, 13, 14, and one of the latter cover parts (both covers preferably imperforate) is impregnated or coated with dormant or latent adhesive and the other cover with waxy or other anti-squeak material as described in my application Ser. No. 183,302, the dipping or other quickening treatment is prefample) and soften the layer 12 and then as the now sticky piece is laid in the cavity bottom the opposite exposed and now uppermost waxy cover support is quickened by the passage f a hot roll (for example) so as to bring to the surface or render active the anti-squeak wax or other material therein or thereon. Such a hot roll is contained in my Patent No. 1,310,588, July 22, 1919, and is indicated at 18 in the present drawings. The shoe at this stage, if a McKay shoe, is customarily on the spindle of a jack, and therefore the hot roll 18 applies pressure in opposition to said jack. This roll preferably has a roughened surface to carry more wax. As the roll goes over the shoe-bottom it simultaneously heats and brings to the surface the anti-squeak waxy,greasy or oily material or quickens said material to a per-' manently anti-squeak condition and spreads it particularly if in heaps or localized. This likewise so coatsthe roll thatit does not tend to pick up the plastic or spreadable portion of the filler layer as the latter exudes vor spreads laterally. This latter treatment amounts pref rably to only a preliminary or partial spreading of the spreadable filler layer, the final spreading being more com-.

plete and severe, preferably the levelling jpressure on the outer sole. In practicing my method (as contained in my method apphcations already mentioned) I have found that some manufacturers OlOJQCt to accomplishing the entire spreading with one pressure because it sometimes marks or improperly shapes the bottom. This preliminary shaping or spreading obviates said defect. At the same time the roll becomes coated by this repeated operation and acts to spread.

i the waxy or other anti-squeak material over the inturned edges 19 of the upper, thereby completing the anti-squeak treatment of the shoe 7 at the only two places where the squeaking usually takes place. The waxing may be supplemented by bringing the roll into contact with a wax pad or suitable supply 20 of anti-squeak material preferably of a kind needing a hot roll, a softer kind being used with a cold roll. This feature of my method is essential whenever said anti-squeak treatment is employed in my method and the filler pieces do not contain their own supply of anti-squeak material or contain an insufficient supply of the same. The paraffin or other waxy, oily or fatty coating material is preferably melted to a highly fluid condition so that when deposited on the inturned edges of the upper the cold surface of the latter chills it and receives it as a surface deposit, so that it is not absorbed but remains as an effective lubricant between the two otherwisedry, rubbing, squeak-producing surfaces. Thus by the same action of the roll, preferably hot, the bottom layer is spread (if of a spread able nature) and heat treated to develop permanently the anti-squeak surface and the crimped upper layers are given an antisqueak treatment. As already stated the apparatus 1 is shown simply for convenience in describing my method but it will be understood that any other form of apparatus for applying the heat treatment or the cementing treatment or outside fillerlayer treatment may be used and that the treatment and applications may be provided either by manipulating the piece with relation to the treating material or by manipulating the treatin material with relation to the piece, and this may be done by hand or otherwise, and may be on one side of the piece or on both sides or enveloping the same, painted on, smeared on, printed 0n,dipping being simply the convenient manner in connection with the apparatus shown. In other words my method is broadly novel and capable of being carried out in a wide variety of ways and varying degrees of completeness.

As already intimated my method is capable of many variations in the steps as herein set forth and in the following claims.

What I claim is, r

1. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing as a nucleus 2. self-supporting piece having a shoe filler shape, then, at some time prior to the step of bottomformng in the manufacture of the shoe, providing said piece with an external layer of spreadable shoe filler material, rendering at least one side of the aforesaid multi-layer actively sticky, and then placing said sticky product in'theshoe-bottom and securing the same in place and spreading the external spreadable layer beyond the nucleus by pressure.

2. T ie method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a shaped filler supporting piece, applying filler material thereto in heaps, placing the same in a shoe-bottom and applying pressure sufficient to flatten out said heaps in laid bottom condition.

3'. The method of filling shoes which coinprises first providing a supporting piece for shoe filler material, applying thereto a plastic layer in excessive amount, stripping off the surplus, and then applying the stripped piece to the shoe-bottom, and spreading the plastic layer beyond the edges ofthe suppor ing p ece by applying pressure thereto.

4. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler supporting piece, applying thereto a plastic layer in excessive amount, s rip ping ofi the surplus and leaving the balance in. heaps, and then apply-'- ing the stripped piece to the shoe-bottom, and applying pressure thereto.

' 5. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler supporting piece having indentations, then at some period prior to the step of bottom forming apheaps.

" some time some time prior to the plying to said indented piece a cementitious layer in heaps upon the indented surface, and placing the same in final position in the shoe bottom by pressure sufficient to spread said 6. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing a filler piece which is laminated and con ains a perforated skin support and an adjacent layer capable of becon ing plastic, and plastic binder material on the opposite side of said skin adapted to be pressed through the perforations to mix with said adjacent layer, laying said filler piece in a shoe bottom cavity and causing the piss tic mat rial on opposite sides of said skin to unite through said perforations.

7. Th method of filling shoes, which comprises providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity, placing said piece between the outer sole and innersole, and at some time prior L10 the step of bottom forming providing an external cushion for sa1d piece, and after the aforesaid parts are assemcled in the shoe-bottom compressing them all together to form a compact shoe-bottom.

8. The method of filling shoes, which comprises )10 i .ing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity, placing said piece between the outer sole and inner-sole, and at prior to the step of bottom formin g applying a separate external cementitious layer of spreadable filler material in positidn to unite said piece ultimately with the adjacent bottom part, and at some tim in LL16 process prior to the final bottom forming applying heat sufiicieut to render the said layer tempered, sticky and moldable, and

finally applying pressure to all the aforesaid parts unite them together.

9. The method of filling shoes, which consists at least in pa rt of providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity and which contains surface indentations, placing said piece in the shoe-bottom, at some time prior to the step of bottom forming applying a moi lable layer nextto said indented surface, and finally interengaging said parts and rendering said moldable layer and piece relativelv non-shiftable by pressure.

10. The method of filling shoes which consists at least in part of providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom ca i y and which contains surface indentations, placing said piece between he outer sole and innersole, at a step of bottom forming applying moldable layer next to s 'd indented surface, and finally interengaging said parts and rendering said moldable layer and piece permanently non-shift-able in the shoe-bottom by external pressure on the outer sole.

11. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing a laminated filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom and which is capable of being made active by quickening treatment and containing elements capable of in creasing the heat resisting capacity of the piece when forced together quickening the piece and applying said piece in said quickened condition to the shoe-bottom between the innersole and outer sole, and then applying external pressure to force the layers of said laminated piece into more intimate relation and thereby effect said final greater heat resisting condition in the shoe-bottom.

12. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing a filler piece adapted to a shoe-bottom cavity, coating the same with a surplus plastic coating, stripping the surplus from said coating to the desired thickness for the given shoe-bottom cavity, leaving on the surface of the filler piece a mass of said plastic coating suitable for spreading, and spreading the plastic coating in the shoe bottom cavity beyond the edges of said piece.

13. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing a filler piece adapted to a shoe-bottom cavity, coating the same with a surplus plastic coating, stripping the surplus from said coating to the desired thickness for the given shoe-bottom cavity, leaving on the surface of the filler piece a mass of said plastic coating suitable for spreading, spreading the plastic coating in the shoe bottom cavity beyond the edges of said piece, and compacting and condensing said coating.

14.: The method of filling shoes which comprises providing between the outer sole and innersole of the shoe-bottom a filler piece having an external coating of spreadable filler material, and spreading said filler material to bottom forming position by means of pressure.

15. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler shaped supporting piece, and then copiously coating it on at least one side with a spreadable cementitious material which is adapted to a shoebottom and which is normally flexible, waterproof and permanently adhesive, and then placing said coated filler piece while still actively cementitious in the shoe-bottom between the outer sole and innersole, securing the out-er sole in shoe-bottoming position so as to enclose said coat-ed piece within the bot-tom cavity, and finally pressing the aforesaid parts firmly together so as to spread the cementitious material in the cavity beyond the edges of said piece and to cause a permanent adhesion therebetween.

16. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler shaped supporting'piece, and then copiously coating it on be n. sides w h cementitious material which is adapted to a shoe-bottom forming the cementitious coatings into ridges,

placing the ridged cementitious coateding the outer solo in place, and finally compressing the coated piece by pressure applied through the outer sole so as to spread the ridges ofcementitious material down fiat on said piece and against the inner surface of the outer sole on one side and the adjacent surface of the cavity bottom on the o her side so as to bring about a permanent adhesion and unitary non-shiftable compactness between said three parts.

17. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing a filler shaped supporting piece, and then applying to the opposite sides thereof a layer of spreadable filler material which includes a permanent'adhesive in active condition, placing the piece, while said adhesive is active, between the outer sole and innersole of the shoe being filled, and finally applying pressure through the outer sole to the filler loaded supporting piece thus placed sufiicient to bring about a spreading of the filler material within the cavity beyond the edges of said supporting piece and a perma nent adhesion of said three parts to each other so as to form a substantially integral nonshiftable bottom.

18. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing a shaped filler supporting piece, and then applying to each side thereof a spreadable, cementitious layer, compressing said layers into compacted engagement with the supporting piece, placing the aforesaid multi-layer piece while said cementitious layers are actively sticky between the outer sole and mnersole of the shoe being filled, and

finally applying pressurethrough the outer sole to the adjacent parts sufficient to spread the cementitious layer within the cavity beyond the edges of said supporting piece and to unite the multi-layer piece permanently to the inner surface of the outer sole and the cavity surface of the innersole.

19. The method of filllng shoes which comprises first providing a filler shaped supportpressure to the adjacentparts through the ing piece, and then applying to each side thereof a cementitious layer in a plurality of heaps, placing said heat covered piece between the innersole and the outer sole, securing the outer sole in place and applying outer sole sufiicient to spread said cement-itlous heaps into permanent union wlth the ad]acent surfaces of the shoe-bottom, so as to unite said outer sole, filler andthe innersole into a substantially unitary bottom.

20. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity, coating both sides thereof with permanently adhesive, flexible,

-waterproof, spreadable, cementitious material, 'depositing the coated piece between the outer sole and. innersole and placing said parts together under pressure so as to spread the cementitious material within the cavity beyond the edges of the said piece and to unitethem permanently in a level bottom with the filler stuck fiat against the inner surface of the outer sole and also fiat against the adjacent surface of the innersole.

21. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity, coating at least one side thereof, with permanently adhesive and flexible cementitious material, spreadable under pressure, spreading said coating in the shoe bottom cavity beyond the edges of said piece, and securing said parts in per manent position in the shoe-bottom by pressure applied externally through the outer sole.

22. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity, applying to at least one side of said piece a copious layer of spreadable shoe filler material, spreading said layer in the shoe bottom cavity beyond the edges of said piece and compressing and condensing said layer by pressure while plastic, and securing said parts in permanent position in the shoebottom by pressure applied. externally through the outer sole.

28. The method of filling shoes which comprises first providing a filler piece adapted to the shoe-bottom cavity, providing at least one external surface of said piece with an ad hesive spreadable layer firmly united to said external surface, and securing said piece and layer, while the latter is actively adhesive, between the outer sole and innersole of the shoe-bottom by pressure applied externally through the outer sole, and at the same time spreading said external layer in the cavity beyond the edges of said piece.

2%. The method of filling shoes which comprises providing in the shoe-bottom cavity a filler piece comprising a self-sustaining and filler supporting internal part having an external layer of spreadable filler material in spreadable condition, and spreading said filler material within the cavity beyond the edges of the internal part by means of pressure.

25. That method of filling shoes, which comprises as steps, providing in the shoe bottom cavity a filler piece comprising a self-sustaining and filler supporting internal part having an external layer of spreadable filler material, quickening said material by heat to spreadable condition, and spread ing said filler material within the cavity beyond the edges of the internal part by means of pressure.

26. The method of filling shoes, which comprises providing intheshoe-bottom cavity a filler piece comprising self-sustaining and filler supporting internal part having I an external layer of spreadable filler material, quickening said material by moisture to spreadable condition, and spreading said filler material to bottom forming position by means of pressure.

27. The method of filling shoes, which comprises providing in the shoe-bottom cavity a filler piece comprising a self-sustaining and filler supporting internal part having an external layer of spreadable filler material, quicliening said material by hot moisture to spreadable condition, and spreading said filler material to bottom forming position by means of pressure.

28. The method of filling shoes, Which comprises providing a filler piece of self-sustaining material adapted to retain its integrity as a liGCB, and of a form suitable for insertion in a shoe bottom cavity, combining said piece With an external mass of plastic, spreadable shoe bottom filler material prior to the application of the outer sole and subjecting the combined parts to pressure within the shoe bottom cavity to spread the plastic filler material Within the cavity and firmly unite the said combined parts to each other and to the adjacent parts of the shoe.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass, this 13th day of October, 1927.

ANDREW THOMA. 

